St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-01-29

lord still remain identical. If the chan
cell0r turns out to be a new man the
arduous task of the Marquis of Sails
bury, the English prime minister, will
be sensibly lightened.
Mr.. Joseph Cham berlain, the leader
of the radical party, who halls from
Birmingham, may moult and reappear
in a new suit 4; if he sheds his economic
| fallacles he is sure to rise rapidly in
the estimation of the British people
who admire pluck, fluent, passionate
speech, excellent debating resources
and self assurance, "cock sureness," as
some one christened it.
Lord harrington, NJ. Goschen, Mr..
Cham berlain, Lord Salisbury and Lord
Churchill are the commanding figures
of the present British Parliament.
They are all, we'll worthy of study.
Style has lately been subject of dis
, cussion. A man will largely mould his
own, it will partake of his own inherent
natural forces and of his environments
of time and of place
How different the styles of Thomas
Carlyle aud Edward Irving are and yet
they were born in the same place and
We're of the same race.
Irving less known than Callvle, far
surpasseS Lin as a writer. We may
admire singularity in others but wisely
eschew its influence. As rule it is
simply odious as Carlyle's style is
odious; mannerism, or sing1,arity of
any kind is fatal blemish. the less Il
man handles Carlyle the better it will
be for his English.
Irving'S prose is like that of Milton
but grander far, it sounds like organ
music in some vast cathedral, the notes
are struck by the firm finger of past
mater and as it comes from his heart it
goes to yours. Beckfnrd'S writings, al
most unknown are admirably fitted as
studies in composition.
Why. it may be asked. should Beck
ford he preferred to Irving since the
latter is so grand. Why for this rea-
son, because You may initiate the polish,
t1eXihility, cOnciSeneSS and sparkle of
the former. while the latter is magni-
ticently unattainable. 1t often happens
in painting that a certain gradatlOn of
color is demanded but as its essence
cannot be transferred to the painters
palate he wisely selects another tint,
less satisfactory. but more amenable to
the conditions under which his art Is
bound. Every art is so limited; to
gain in one line, to attain in one means
calculabie corresponding loss in an
other.
Here is short list of books. those
best adapted to further the attainment
of tlnency and ease. sparkle and per-
splcacity in composition:
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN'S
/. Parochial Sermons.
?. Calista. An Historical Romance,
3. The Dream of Zerontius, A Dra-
matte Tragedy.
BECKFoRDs
1. Nathek.
?. Travels in Italy.
3. Travels in Portugal.
IRVING, EDWARD
1. Sermons,
,. OratiODS,
THACkERAi, N. W.
1. English Humorists.
?. Harry Esmond, A Romance.
NATHANIEL HAwTHoRNE's
I. Marble Fawn, or Transformation,
A Romance.
II. w. LONGFELLOW'S
/. Golden Legend, A Drama.
The greatest living writer of English |
is John Henry Newman, Card. New
man. The parochial sermons were |
written in his prime while he
occupied the pulpit of St. Mary |
the Virgin, Oxford Callista. an his
torical romance, was written after
Card. Wiseman brought out story en-
titled Fabiola, or The Church in the
it was intended to continue
the series begun. "The Dream OF Ie
rontius" is beautiful tragic Drama
founded on some of the incidents con-
tanned in Card. Wiseman's story.
The Golden Legend is the most con
siderable of the poems Of H. w. Long
fellow.
Transformation. or "the marble
fawn" is the finest and last OF the tales
brought out by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1t far surpasses his others and is slngu-
arly different in style.
r. SANDWTTH